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[Question] Italics on auxiliary verbs
(lemmy.world)
In these cases, italics are used for emphasis, showing the focus word of the thought group. It’s necessary because the primary stress has shifted to a word that wouldn’t normally have it.
BTW, in the first sentence, “had” is not an auxiliary. It’s the main verb of the subordinate clause. English is a little confusing because it allows the non-modal auxiliaries also to function as main verbs in their own right.
Is that it? I've been trying to figuring it for quite a while and it seems so obvious after you said it. I do know that bolds and all caps being used for emphasis, never thought about that italics in the same light, or, I supposed, soft emphasis.
Thanks!!
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